Primary finding
Probable cause
An improper flare during touchdown and an inadequate bounced landing recovery. Contributing to the accident was an excessive airspeed and an inadvertent porpoise.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said that his approach to landing was normal, but he flew the base leg a little wide. He reported that his airspeed on short final approach was too fast, and the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane landed hard, porpoised, and landed hard again on its nose gear. The nose gear collapsed under the fuselage crushing the engine cowling and bending the keel beam.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 7, 2007, at 1900 Pacific daylight time, a Beech F-33A, N7298R, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Brackett Field Airport (POC), La Verne, California. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which originated from Red Bluff, California, approximately 3 hours before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he had departed Victoria International Airport (CYYJ), Sidney, Canada, at 1230. He stopped at Friday Harbor, Washington, for customs, and proceeded to Red Bluff, California, for fuel. The weather had been good and the flight had been uneventful. He said that his approach to Brackett Field was normal, but he flew the base leg a little wide. His short final speed was too fast, and the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane landed hard, porpoised, and landed hard again on its nose gear. The nose gear collapsed under the fuselage crushing the engine cowling and bending the keel beam.